Vedauwoo Camping

 

   Our last two days in Wyoming were spent at the Vedauwoo's in southeastern Wyoming, about 20 miles east of Laramie just off of I-80. The area is comprised of unusual granite rock formations that are popular with rock climbers. Access to the area is free however there is an area for day use and a campground that requires a fee. We decided to stay at the campground which has level paved sites for $10 per night. There are nice fire rings and picnic tables at each campsite. Clean pit toilets are also available. The weather was nice but a little on the cool side with highs around 60 and lows around freezing. At 8,500' elevation it's going to be a little cooler than the nearby cities of Cheyenne and Laramie.
   We really enjoyed our 2 months and 12 days in Wyoming this summer. The time has passed quickly but the weather is beginning to turn colder so it's time to start making our way back to the east and eventually to the deep south.

 

 

On the turtle rock trail, a 3 mile loop trail from the campground

 

Beaver pond on the turtle rock trail.

 

 

Some of the best rock climbing in the country is in this area.

 

 

 

 

Relaxing at the end of the day

 

The RV is in the distance, left center

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Back in Kansas & Medicine Bow Peak Climb

   We're now back in Bonner Springs, KS after a final 2 day stay at the Vedauwoo's in southeastern Wyoming. We left Friday morning and drove 626 miles to St. Joseph, MO in 11 hours, the longest day and most miles I've driven the RV in one day. Saturday's drive to Bonner Springs only took 1 hour, giving us plenty of time to go see our son Jared, Breanna, and grandson Brody in the afternoon.

   I still have a couple of posts about our time in Wyoming. This one will be about a day climb I made of Medicine Bow Peak. I got a late start and was concerned that perhaps bad weather may set in if I didn't get up and down quickly. After a one hour drive from Saratoga I started up the mountain at 9:06 am. It's not a very hard climb but at high altitude it really works on your lungs. Starting elevation is around 10,600' and ends at just over 12,000'.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I didn't make it down in time before a thunderstorm developed. With lightning and hail falling it was a scary descent. I had to hold my pack on top of my head to keep the hail from pounding away.

 

 

 

After starting back to Saratoga I ran into a snowstorm at the top of the mountain. I had to stop 4 times to clear snow and slush from the windshield. The wipers actually stopped working each time. Once I drove down to the 8000' level there was no snow at all. When I got back to Saratoga it was 80 degrees!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Pahaska Tepee

   While visiting the Yellowstone area we would pass by a very small settlement only a mile east of the campground called Pahaska Tepee. It has a restaurant, gift shop, gas station, and cabins for rent. It's open in the spring after the snow melts and closes in late September. The first structure built here was Buffalo Bill Cody's hunting lodge in the early 1900's. He had 12 guest rooms built for his buddy's to stay and hunt with him.

 

 

 

 

 

Gift shop and restaurant

 

 

We had a great breakfast. I had the western skillet and Barbara had french toast.

 

 

Around Yellowstone, they do something called Christmas in August. Note the tree on the right.

 

 

 

Inside Buffalo Bill's hunting lodge.

 

 

Buffalo Bill entertained a lot of famous people at the lodge. This elk was shot by Teddy Roosevelt.  The Cuban flag, captured during the Spanish American war was a gift to Buffalo Bill.

 

 

One of the cabins for rent

 

 

Barbara beside the wooden bear

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beartooth Highway

   Our drive on the Beartooth Highway (US 212) from the northeast entrance of Yellowstone to Red Lodge, Montana was one of the most dramatic we've ever taken. There was mile after mile of driving above timberline at above 10,000 ft., topping out at nearly 11,000 ft. at Beartooth Pass. If you are ever in this part of the country, you need to do this drive.

  

It's hard to say where the Beartooth Highway officially begins so I'll start with driving through the Lamar Valley in the northeastern section of Yellowstone. It's a beautiful valley that Buffalo congregate in during the fall and winter. It is said that wolves can be seen early in the morning. Sadly we didn't get there early enough. We did see many Buffalo however.

 

 

After crossing into Montana, we came to the small tourist town of Cooke City.

 

 

We soon began climbing up into the mountains.

 

 

We made a quick side trip down to Beartooth Lake

 

 

 

For mile after mile, the scenery is breath taking.

 

 

Near the end of the highway you come to Vista Point. From here is all down hill to Red Lodge.

 

 

Downtown Red Lodge. We had lunch at a delightful Chinese Restaurant. We made our way back to the campground by driving down to Cody and then west toward Yellowstone arriving at 3 mile campground before dark. It was a tiring but wonderful day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Grand Teton Nat. Park

   While we were staying at 3 mile campground we decided to get up early and head to Grand Teton for the day. After a drive of over 100 miles we arrived at the most impressive mountain range I've ever seen. It's not a very long range of mountains but they seem to rise straight out of the ground. In fact, the elevation change from the valley floor is nearly 7000'.

 

 

 

 

 

   Next post...the Beartooth Highway, the most beautiful mountain drive I've ever taken.